Bleacher seat



G. H. MIRALLE S BLEACHER SEAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 5 MM 5 9a Feb. 17, 1959 Filed March 2, 1956 United States Patent BLEACHER SEAT Gustavo Halley Miralles, Havana, Cuba Application March 2, 1956, Serial No. 569,044 Claims priority, application Cuba October 14, 1955 3 Claims. 01. 155-133 This invention relates generally to a seat assembly and pertains more particularly to a seat adapted for use on bleachers and the like.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved form of seat assembly for use with bleachers and the like which incorporates a chair-like assembly of legless construction so constructed and designed to impart a maximum of rigidity thereto, while at the same time, evidencing a maximum of economy in construction.

Another object of thisinvention is to provide an improved bleacher seatformed of tubular frame elements so constructed and arranged as to impart a maximum of rigidity thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved bleacher seat incorporating a main frame section and a pair of side frame sections, the main frame section including a generally U-shaped horizontal portion having at its free ends upstanding vertical post portions which form the seat back and which are interconnected and rigidified between their free ends by a back rest member.

A further object of this invention is to provide an assembly in accordance with the preceding object wherein the side frame elements are of C-shaped configuration with lower leg portions thereof rigidly secured to the U- shaped seat forming member and having free end portions beyond such point of attachment adapted to rest upon a supporting structure to brace and rigidify the vertical post of the main frame section by virture of a connection of upper leg portions thereof to such post.

The novel features that are considered characteristic ofthe invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts through the several figures and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the improved bleacher seat;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the main frame section showing the same in upside down relation to show details of construction;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken sub stantially along the plane of section line 55 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane of section line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the improved bleacher seat assembly comprises three separate frame sections of tubular form for lightness and rigidity and including a main frame section 10 and two side frame 2,873,792 Patented Feb. 17, 1959 portions 14 and 15, respectively, having vertically upturned post portions 16 and 17 integral with their free ends. The U-shaped portion of the main section, defined by the bight 13 and the legs 14 and 15, is adapted to rest directly upon a supporting surface such as a bleacher member 18, and this U-shaped portion forms the seat frame for the assembly.

A back rest 19 interconnects and rigidifies the upper free end portions of the posts 16 and 17 and preferably is formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material such as metal, thermoplastic, composition board or the like. This back rest 19 preferably is formed from a single sheet of material so deformed as to provide an arcuate back rest portion 20. Along its upper edge, the back rest 19 is provided with a' rearwardly directed, inverted channellike flange 21 to rigidify the structure and this flange is extended down the opposite ends of the back rest to provide vertical channel portions 22 and 23, preferably of circular section. These vertical channel portions 22 and 23 partially enclose the upper free ends of the posts 16 and 17 of the main frame section 10, and are rigidly attached thereto as by fasteners 24.

Upon the U-shaped seat forming, frame portion of the main frame section 10, is mounted a seat member 25 formed of sheet material and provided'along its front and side edges with an inverted channel-like deformation 26 adapted to rest upon and partially enclose the upper and outer surfaces of the bight 13 and the legs 14 and 15, as

As will be seen most clearly in Fig. 4, the legs 14 and i 15 of the main frame section 10 are each provided with keyhole shaped slots 28 and 29, respectively, for assoj ciation with bolt members 30 for securing the assembly to the bleacher 18, as will be seen most clearly in Fig. 5. The enlarged head 31 of a bolt 30 is passed through the enlarged portion of one of the keyhole slots and then slid along the narrow shank of the slot for preventing withdrawal of the bolt head. The bolt is passed through a suitable vertical opening in the bleacher 18 and having associated therewith a suitable washer 32 and nut 33 for rigidly affixing the .seat assembly directly to the upper surface of the bleacher 18. It will be noted that the slots 28 and 29 have relatively elongate shanks which enables adjustment of the seat assembly relative to the front edge of the bleacher 18.

The side frame sections 11 and 12 are similarly formed and each is of generally C-shaped configuration including an upper arm portion 34 and a lower arm portion 35 which are more or less parallelly disposed relative to each other. The upper arm portions 34 of the sections 11 and 12 are connected respectively to the posts 16 and 17 by fasteners 36 and the lower arm portions 35 to the legs 14 and 15 by fasteners 37, as is shown most clearly in Figs. 1-3. The side frame sections 11 and 12 provide sides for the seat assembly and the upper arm portions 34 form arm rests, as will be clearly evident. The fastening members 37 which secure the lower arm portions 35 to the respective leg portions 14 and 15 of the main frame section 10 front'and'sides thereof fitted sandwiched between said seat "le'gsnf said'side frames; fastening means securingthe also serve -to' sandwichthe depending vertical edge portions'" 26 'ofthe seat member-25 to" rigidly hold the seat" member in position upon the-seat portion of the main frame section.

It will be. 'notedL'th'at a substantial free 'end' portion" ofjthe' lowerarm'portion 35 of each side frame section 11 and 12"Iextends' rearwardly from the pointrof' connection by the fastener 37 to the leg14 or 15 of the seat portion 17"and'prevent their rearward'deflection under the weight of the person seated on theseat assembly.

Bythe above described construction, it will be readily apparent that there is provided a bleacher seat assembly which'isiof lightweight; and ofeconomical construction and whichis,at the same time,'.possessed of a maximum strength and rigidity duringuse'so as to withstand severe abusewithout 'breakage'or bending and which, on the whole, 'is entirely suitable'for the purposes intended.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to' be restricted except insofar as is necessitated bythe' prior art' and by the spirit of the appended claims.

What'is claimed is:

1. In a bleacher'seat, a main frame section and a pair of side "frame sections, said main frame section comprising ,a generally U-shaped portion presenting a bight and substantially parallel'legsand each leg having an upstanding' post rigidly fixed 'atitsfree end, whereby the bight s andhlegs form a seat frameand the posts form a back rest frame, said main frame section beingformed of tubular-stock' and the legs thereof each having a keyhole slot in their ibottomwalls for'th'e' removable receptionof headed fasteners for securing each side frame section being rigidly connected between one of'said legs and its corresponding post to form an arm rest and each including an upper leg secured at its freejend to said post and a lower leg parallel to and adjacent the free end portion of the corresponding main frame leg, a seat member of rigid sheet material overlying said seat frame and having :1 depending flange around the 'over said seat frame and frame legs and the lower sideframe'lower leg and seat flange to the associated main the seatframe to. a bleacher,

' each side frame'member frame leg, and a back member extending between the upperfree ends" of" said post.

2. A bleacher seat comprising a main frame section including a generally U-shaped portion presenting a bight and a pair of substantially parallel legs, all adapted to rest upon a supporting surface, a seat member of sheet material overlying said U-shaped portion and having a channel-like marginal edge partially receiving said bight and legs, each legterrninatinginan upstanding post providing a back rest frame, a pair ofside frame members, each side frame member-being of generally C-shaped configuration .presenting: upper and lowernsubstantially parallel legs, eachupper leg being connected to corresponding post and each'lower'leg being disposedinsideby-side relation to the freeend portionof an associated main frame leg and sandwiching a portion of the marginal edge of said seat-member between such side-by-side legs, and fastening means interconnecting each associated pair of main and side frame legs to interconnect the same and hold said seat member in place.

3. A bleacher seat comprising, a main framesection including a generally U-shaped portion presenting a bight and a pair of substantially parallel legs, rest upon a supporting surface, a sheet material overlying said U-shaped portion and having a channel-like marginal edge partially receiving said bight and legs, each-leg terminating in an upstanding post pro,- vidinga back restiframe, a pair of side frame members,

being of generally C-shaped configuration: presenting -.upper and, lower substantially parallel legs, each upper leg being connected to a corresponding post and each .lower. leg being disposed in side by-side relation to thefree-end portion .ofan associated.

mainframe legandsandwiching a portion of .the marginal edge of said seat member between,suchsiderby-sideilegs, each associated pairzof main, and side frame legs to interconnect the, same and fastening means interconnecting,

hold said seat-member in place, and a back rest. member interconnecting-the upper freer ends-ofsaid posts,vsaid back rest memberlcomprising; a sheet ofrigid materialhaving a flange on its-upper and side edges with the. side edge flanges receivingthe upper ends of said-posts.

References Citedin thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,165,471 Walton Dec; 28,1915 2,005,972 7 .1 Gallop June 25,- 1935 2,449,52-3.i.. Wilson; .Se'pt.:14, 1948 2,725,925. :1 Sandersonxet al.- Dec. 6,1955

.all adaptedto seat member of rigid 

